Abstract
Introduction/Objectives: Childhood obesity develops as the result of the interplay between individual and environmental factors. Community based participatory research (CBPR) is an effective tool for improving health of communities. There is limited research on CBPR for facilitating healthy lifestyle in community schools with an alternative learning environment. The objective of the study was to explore student and staff perspectives via focus groups on barriers and facilitators for healthy eating and physical activity in a community school with alternative learning environment and to prioritize, design, and implement suggested interventions to improve healthy lifestyle. Methods: We conducted qualitative research through 8 focus groups of middle and high school students (n = 40) and 2 focus groups of school staff (n = 8). The school community and research team subsequently identified and implemented interventions for facilitating healthy lifestyle in students within the school environment. Results: Barriers identified for healthy lifestyle included lack of motivation, lack of healthy food options at school, inadequate knowledge about healthy lifestyle and insufficient opportunities for physical activity. Facilitators for healthy lifestyle were support and motivation from mentors and knowledge about healthy nutrition. Key strategies implemented were addition of healthier food options, educational materials for healthy eating, creation of a walk path, standing desks in classrooms and additional equipment in the school gymnasium. Conclusions: Formative feedback from students and staff was helpful in the implementation of strategies for facilitating healthy lifestyle among students within a community school with an alternative learning environment.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Primary Care and Community Health |
| Volume | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:They would also like to acknowledge Kaitlin Anderson RD, Thomas Rieck, and Nolan Peterson for their contribution toward design of the interventions at the Alternative Learning Center. The study team is thankful to Jo Anne Judge-Dietz, Public Health Nurse, SHIP School Coordinator at Olmsted County Public Health for her support. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This project was supported by CTSA Grant Number UL1 TR002377 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. The co-authors would like to acknowledge Amy Peterslie, Nicole Wibstad, and the students at the ALC for their participation.
Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This project was supported by CTSA Grant Number UL1 TR002377 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. The co-authors would like to acknowledge Amy Peterslie, Nicole Wibstad, and the students at the ALC for their participation.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
Keywords
- alternative learning environment
- community based participatory research
- healthy lifestyle
- nutrition
- physical activity
